Our Top 5 FAVORITE Varieties From Each Crop We Grow

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Thank you all so much for watching and Grow BIG!

[@schnder1]

I love supporting your company for seeds. The knowledge that you freely give out to help new gardners learn is fantastic. Your easy style of teaching is invaluable.

[@mackenzieboersen]

Yes! As soon as I think of something I need to learn, I look for a video from Luke first.

[@cindytrusty6598]

I thought I had my order finalized, until I saw this video! 😂. Thanks for the recommendations.

[@WelcometomyCapeCodlife]

I’m going to add one of my favorites in each category you mentioned. For cucumbers I’d like silver slicers a prolific white skinned variety. As for the green bean category I’m going with purple podded pole beans, an 8’ foot row fed me from the end of June through October. I ate most of them fresh, but froze several bags and gifted plenty as well, very prolific! Now for squash, white scallop squash does really well for me. It’s tasty and creamy. Tomatoes are the queen of the garden and my all time favorite is the pink brandywine! It’s a big beefsteak variety that for me has unbelievable flavor, though huge in size they aren’t the most prolific, but I love them! On to peppers, I personally not a fan of sweet peppers, but I do like hot peppers, not those insanely hot ones though. My pick is a somewhat hard heirloom to find called hot Portugal pepper. It makes excellent fermented hot sauce, if you can find them you really should try them. As for lettuce I have to go with nostalgia. The first vegetable seed I ever planted when I was 12 was black seeded Simpson and that was 52 years ago! It’s a beautiful light green leaf lettuce with a buttery soft texture. I plant it for both as a head lettuce and for cut and come again leaves. This was a great video Luke!

[@juliekovach9784]

Last year you turned me on to the Super Nova grape tomato. I took a big bowl of them out to our neighborhood picnic last summer and everyone loved them! People took paper bowls of them home to eat after having some at the picnic. Super Nova are a grape tomato that tastes like a beefsteak when you pop one in your mouth. They are definitely on my garden plan again this year.

[@tottering-by-gently]

A tomato I love that I never see mentioned anywhere is Sioux. It looks like just a plain red tomato but the flavor is exquisite.

[@jillsimpson8716]

This was so helpful! Getting insight from a dedicated seed guy is priceless. Can’t wait to go shopping on your site!

[@nikiguelda720]

The picture that popped up for the pineapple tomato was a ground cherry :P

[@draero8481]

They're GIANTS !🤣

[@Blueberry-rx6hr]

I think the same thing happened to the "butterneck". It shows a butternut squash. When you go to his sight, there is a butter neck, and it seems to be what he is actually describing.

[@gelwood99]

I LOVE the Silver Slicer cucumber, it is prolific and I found it from Jess Sowards from her first garden tour years ago. It never fails, isn't bitter and I planted my first seeds on July 4th (when the seeds arrived) and got a great harvest that lasted until frost. It will always have a spot in my garden. Even when you miss one and the seeds are hard, scoop out the seeds and enjoy because it still isn't bitter. National pickling has never done well for me, they are always misshapen, tiny at the stem, and large at the bloom end, even with consent watering.

[@dianafigueroa6764]

Thanks for sharing, I definitely want to try some of your top 5. I love buying seeds from your store. The price is amazing and the customer service is also amazing. I once received a couple of bad garlic heads, can happen from anywhere, but the store helped to make it right with what I felt was a smile. I also had another experience when I realized I missed ordering 2 more seed packets and would have had to pay for shipping and the person at the store had someone pull my order, which was about to be taken to be shipped and opened and added the seed packets for me. I was grateful and very impressed with the customer service.

[@valeriebenko1085]

I got Black Seaman tomato seeds from you years ago and that soared to our number one spot and still remains the reigning champion. 🙂

[@kakicummings6124]

Thanks Luke! I was stressing about selections for this years garden. I was ordering on the app as you were speaking-I’m only getting into yr 2- you have made me a better gardener. May your diamonds be as big as potatoes.

[@darrenwalker905]

Our absolute favorite bean is Dragon Tongue. Never stringy. It doesn't get "beany". So buttery in flavor, incredibly productive and easy to find when picking because of the color. ❤❤❤

[@aphillips5376]

I grew the butterneck squash this year! It is wonderful!!!!!

[@joannagel4681]

Thanks Luke I appreciate you sharing your favs, some are ones I haven’t tried so adding them to this years garden.

[@jean1228]

Some I already had on my wishlist or had bought from MIG before, but you introduced several varieties I wasn't familiar with. I still consider myself a new gardener, so it was helpful! Rounded out the cart so I could get my order going. :)

[@brad4527]

Great stuff! Love the striped zucchini, so good!!!

[@briantrout7051]

Thanks, Luke! I'll order a few of these to try! Also, wouldn't mind hearing about the "also ran" varieties that would be your "next on the list" picks. 🙂

[@gaylecorwin3460]

We all ❤you, and of course we are all spring dreaming and about to inundate you with orders. lol Have you grown Amana Orange tomatoes? They are phenomenal! I also wrote down all of your cucumber suggestions, I haven't had luck with them till last year, but then the squirrels found them. It's always something. Can't wait to get growing again!😃

[@MaryBennett]

Thank you for this list. I agree about Long Pie, but I do find that the flesh shrinks dramatically when baked. I bake squash for holiday pumpkin pies; my go to variety has been Red Kuri. I loved the flavor of Long Pie in pie, but not much flesh per squash. I wish you would consider trialing the pole bean Blue Coco. It is purple, a French heirloom, and is delicious at all three stages, pod, shelly and I am told, dried as well. Fedco has it this year, as does True Love Seeds. The vines have a purple tinge and are quite attractive in the garden.

[@sonniloomis9464]

This is exactly what I needed. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge

[@KK-FL]

I almost didn’t watch this one but I’m glad I did. You gave such great information on why you like each of the varieties. But now I’ve gotta go seed shopping 😅

[@katieeshaw]

Lemon cucumbers for the win! They’re my summer favorite.

[@tammystoddard2830]

Great video! This will help me choose my seeds. My normal favorites to grow are Cherokee purple tomatoes here in Florida.

[@Beth-p7r]

Just when I think I am all set for seeds for the next growing season, you give a top 5 rundown and reminded me of things I wanted to try as well as new future favorites. 😂 There goes another 10 seed order! By the way, been growing Champagne Bubbles since your earlier plug back around ~2021. They are a must grow. Sooo good.

[@loveandlavender11]

Great video! I love knowing other gardeners’ all time favorites. I’ve grown a few you mentioned but got a few new ideas as well. I do want to let you know that I think a couple of your pictures looked like the wrong varieties. I *think* one was a pumpkin and the other was the pineapple tomato. It looked like a small ground cherry was shown instead.

[@askdolo]

This was fun and informative. Thanks!

[@caroldragon7545]

Your web site is one of the easiest ones to navigate. I just ordered some of your favorites to try this year even though I live in PA zone 6 which is very different from your locale.

[@CherylHamburger]

Love that pillow.

[@sarahmoore405]

I love the Dr. Wyche tomato and the Ajvarski pepper.

[@CherylHamburger]

Thanks Luke!!

[@caroldragon7545]

A couple of things you might be interested in trying are Carolina Sieva (a baby lima pole bean), and Kajari melons (super sweet green flesh, the size of a small cantaloupe). Both are open pollinated heirloom varieties.

[@crazy8skml]

Well I guess the beat for last. That is the only seed that I have gotten from you that was listed. Lol I didn’t even grow it last year. I will be doing so this year though. All seeds I have bought so far have had amazing germination and growth. Sadly my water and soil was not the best. That IS changing this year! Thank you again! Grow Bigger is the motto for this year! ❤

[@kathywilliams-xt9kd]

Might have to try some new varieties this year. Thanks

[@Squeakachu1006]

I grew Pineapple for the first time last year. It blew my mind. I want at least 2 plants in my garden this year. I did find that for some reason as the season went on, the subsequent tomatoes were not as sweet as they came off the vine. I fully intend on babying those plants this year for optimal sweetness all season. lol I bought Big Jim pepper seeds from you to grow this year. I’m excited to try them… another pepper you need to try is Gatherers Gold. I don’t think you have those seeds, but you should get them and try it. It’s an yellow sweet pepper, very large. So far it’s the sweetest pepper I’ve ever tried.

[@monicalinerode1783]

My favorite wax bean to grow is Golden Butterwax Bean. These plants are great producers, they can great, have a great flavor, never rusted, and are tender. I’ve grown contender and provider green beans and they are similar and can well. Pepperoncini peppers I grow yearly. They have a spicy flavor that reminds me of pizza which I use on as well as sandwiches. Great Lakes, red rouge and Bibb lettuce are my favorites. I tried growing iceberg lettuce few years and sow and pill bugs and slugs devastated the plants. Our daughter can grow iceberg lettuce with no problems and she lives an hour away. lol

[@breathedeeply7467]

If you’re getting into gardening and starting to really plan your seed purchases, I can’t suggest MIgardener enough. He doesn’t talk himself up but he should, it is honorable that he has made a commitment to keep his seeds at 2$. Spend time looking around to find your favorite seeds, but I promise you, eventually MIgardener will be your primary seed provider each year.

[@lisagee2789]

If you love sweet red peppers as I do, Giant Marconi is at the top of the list. Sweet, productive, and early. Everything you desire in a fresh or frying pepper.

[@michelleReads1200]

My favorite lettuce to grow is Swiss chard / romain lettuce. I also like to grow Japanese cucumber and honey deligh , lemon boy, chocolate cherry, yellow pear tomatoes

[@rjaquaponics9266]

My icon photo is from my aquaponic dome where I grew bushels of lettuce year round. Oh how times are changed.

[@chrismoore9686]

I love this video and all the information. I think there's much more to the squash category and I feel the summer squashes and winter squashes should be 2 categories because there are many more delicious options in each.

[@csmitty3517]

I love black cherry tomatoes they have a deep sweetnest and hold their form well in a saute pan... those that make it into the house.

[@rebeccapem5550]

My favorite beef steak tomato is also the Pineapple! Amazing 💛 My favorite mini is the Mexican Midgets.

[@lovas1196]

Champagne Bubbles is a favorite tomato in our house too! The past couple of years we have really failed with cucumbers - our cucumber beetles have been relentless and have destroyed our plants.

[@noelgraff2012]

Try succession planting them, a few weeks or a month apart in waves. That way, as some plants are being destroyed, you have more coming into maturity.😊

[@lindalouis3731]

Growing vertical pole beans, Kentucky and purple podded are EXTREMELY prolific. Always productive even in warm weather.

[@MissJens]

Pineapple and Champagne Bubbles are in my top 5 as well.

[@nicholasnarcowich9163]

Wife & I love butternut Squash... have a lot of seeds :-) wanting to share...

[@steveott1369]

Can you recommend your favorite self-pollinating Cuke varieties? I have been have dwindling pollination issues last few years. Thanks for your awesome videos. Looking forward to placing my seed order.

[@cathycharron-folsom4504]

I love yellow or wax beans.

[@WelcometomyCapeCodlife]

@@cathycharron-folsom4504 me too, MIGardener has a variety called Top Notch that did well for me

[@SilverSaabArc]

I went back and forth between Champaign Bubbles cherry tomato and Sungold. I reluctantly went with the (overhyped) hybrid only because of the name recognition. Maybe I'll have more space to try multiple new varieties next year!

[@sheliaheverin8822]

Ok, who besides me was shopping as the video was playing?

[@LaurieH57]

Already shopped! :(

[@stephenremo9200]

Nice list.. How about a top heirlooms for us seed savers

[@JohnWood-tk1ge]

Watching very late spent the day running errands with my niece before she goes back to Veterinary University.

[@eliinthewolverinestate6729]

I like Amish paste tomatoes and solar flare cherry tomatoes. We like the Delicata winter squash. I love purple pole beans they don't ripen all at once and produce till frost. I grow the purple pole beans in with my Astronomy Domine sweet corn.

[@nancygould6789]

Enjoy your day😊

[@PrettyAliceNight]

Great video! I love that you included photos but I think the pineapple tomato pic was a ground cherry. Also it would be helpful if you put the names on the screen cause I don’t know how to spell some of these to look them up as easily.

[@caroldragon7545]

Do you by any chance have a recipe for sweet gherkins? I haven't been able to find a recipe that has the same taste as the commercial sweet gherkins.

[@bradbrandt9578]

Thank you

[@ricardawenzel8531]

The best Tomato in my opinion is the Smaragdapfel😊 Greetings from Germany

[@maryjane-vx4dd]

Tasty green used to be called orient express which I think is the same thing as tender green cucumber. Never bitter.

[@biscuit7910]

Awesome tutorial. Are these seeds heirloom? If not, when you save the seeds, do they revert back to one of the parent plants? Yes, I am fairly new to your channel, but I love it very much. Love 😍 love all the information. Awesomeness all at one site. ❤❤❤

[@Martha-q8p1b]

I need to grow garbanzos. I only grow organic varieties, though. I've been a steadfast Territorial customer for over a decade...but they don't sell organic edamame any longer. I'll check out your seeds. They are definitely less expensive.

[@maryloublouse8578]

Luke was the butternut squash from the Amish store the same as Pennsylvania crook neck squash? I'm from Pa. and love this squash but I have a hard time finding the seeds. Love your videos!! God bless !! 😊

[@leslierowell392]

Where are the gynoecious and parthenocarpic varieties? Is your selection limited to open pollinated varieties (maybe better described as heirloom) only?

[@susanangelo7737]

I grew Contender and Provider side by side. Biggest difference was that i could pick Provider one handed, not so with Contender.

[@sarahmoore405]

I would love it of you could list your varieties in the description so they were easy to find after watching the video. Thanks.

[@kaylakraft7293]

Tomato- black cherry

[@dianafigueroa6764]

I’m surprised you stated that the California Bell is disease resistant. I had problems with bacterial wilt for two summers and I read that the California Bell might be the problem as compared to the other peppers I was growing. Once I eliminated them from my garden the bacterial wilt disappeared. I know it could have been a coincidence, but I love, love, love peppers and wouldn’t want to chance the return of bacterial wilt by trying them again. Maybe I had bad seeds (not yours), but I’m nervous about trying them.

[@mars7304]

When are you guys planning on restocking the online store?

[@cathycharron-folsom4504]

I love stripped zucchini the best.

[@carolineinon]

All heirlooms?

[@re66044]

Do you have a tomato recommendation when growing in 9B or 10A?

[@SaturdaySoul]

Floradade, imho

[@helenmcclellan452]

Could you do a video on perennials that require cold stratification since I wish to grow some from seed and the seed packets do not indicate if they do or not? Also, seeds that require black humidity domes instrad of clear ones, like pansies? Thank you!

[@Controlled_Insanity_003]

Now can you do a fruit list?

[@hoosierpioneer]

Huh. Tendergreen and Muncher both die before flowering for me! Wonder what's wrong? English cukes grow fine for me.

[@rherman]

Luke, it ended up being a 30 minute video anyway. ;)

[@debbyappleby1484]

Could you send me the list of the Tomatoes and cucumbers, and Squash for me.

[@Rogerio45341]

I would grow cucumbers, but cucumber beetles show up and dont want to deal with them.

[@Mark723]

Cucumber beetles always ruin the party.

[@Storm23PS3]

Have you put radishes around your cucumbers? And have you grown them vertically?

[@kimberlysmith5321]

Sprinkle some need on it

[@csmitty3517]

@Rogerio45341 start a few in cups inside around the middle of June then transplant outside once the get their first set of true leaves. The beetles are usually done invading by then and gives you plenty of time to grow some nice cucumbers.

[@susanangelo7737]

Grow parthencarpic under cover.

[@bluewolf4915]

If you're never grown Seychelles and Cobra pole beans, you're missing out.

[@aetreus88]

I'm currently researching the easiest watermelon to grow this spring. anyone got suggestions?

[@darylhankemeier3564]

Sugar baby watermelon

[@dianafigueroa6764]

When you say the cucumbers are disease resistant, does that include disease spread by cucumber Beatles? I have a problem with them every year and therefore have problems getting almost any cucumbers to the point of harvest which makes me so sad because they are my husband and granddaughter’s favorite.

[@OstropoloS]

your editor put the wrong picture for pineapple tomato

[@MIgardener]

Woops! Good catch!!

[@OstropoloS]

@@MIgardener hehe no worries!

[@susanthomas5167]

When eating keto, the only low-carb squash is spaghetti.

[@jonpalmer2766]

❤🙏

[@Annastasia666]

CHAMPAGNE BUBBLES RULES THE UNIVERSE in terms of FLAVOR! People do yourself a favor and grow this tomato! You will NOT regret it. I actually bought 2 seed packs of Champagne Bubs (that’s what I call it 😂) just so I can share them with friends! It’s a massssive plant and just did not stop producing all the way into early Nov! I’m in Northern Jersey. I miss them soooo much! Some even taste like a Concord grape! Delicious

[@doug779]

You should post the name on the screen. You speak so fast sometimes you are hard to understand.

[@dianafigueroa6764]

Thanks for sharing, I definitely want to try some of your top 5. I love buying seeds from your store. The price is amazing and the customer service is also amazing. I once received a couple of bad garlic heads, can happen from anywhere, but the store helped to make it right with what I felt was a smile. I also had another experience when I realized I missed ordering 2 more seed packets and would have had to pay for shipping and the person at the store had someone pull my order, which was about to be taken to be shipped and opened and added the seed packets for me. I was grateful and very impressed with the customer service.

[@dianafigueroa6764]

I’m surprised you stated that the California Bell is disease resistant. I had problems with bacterial wilt for two summers and I read that the California Bell might be the problem as compared to the other peppers I was growing. Once I eliminated them from my garden the bacterial wilt disappeared. I know it could have been a coincidence, but I love, love, love peppers and wouldn’t want to chance the return of bacterial wilt by trying them again. Maybe I had bad seeds (not yours), but I’m nervous about trying them.